News Updates: Construction

Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 370 of the 991 construction fatalities recorded in 2016. Those deaths were preventable. OSHA's National Safety Stand-Down, to be held May 7-11, raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries.

A Safety Stand-Down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety. Any workplace can hold a stand-down by taking a break to focus on fall hazards and reinforcing the importance of fall prevention. Employers of companies not exposed to fall hazards can have a conversation with employees about other job hazards they face, protective methods and the company's safety policies and goals. It can also be an opportunity for employees to talk to management about fall and other job hazards they see.

For more information and materials, visit www.osha.gov/ StopFallsStandDown.

OSHA aims to reduce trenching, excavation hazards

OSHA's Agency Priority Goal for 2018 is to reduce trenching and excavation hazards.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, excavation and trench-related fatalities in 2016 were nearly double the average of the previous five years. OSHA's goal is to increase awareness of trenching hazards in construction, educate employers and workers on safe cave-in prevention solutions, and decrease the number of trench collapses.

OSHA plans to issue public service announcements, support the National Utility Contractors Association's 2018 Trench Safety Stand-Down, update online resources on trench safety, and work with other industry associations and public utility companies to create an effective public-private effort to save lives. OSHA's trenching and excavation national emphasis program is also currently under revision.

For more information, visit www. osha.gov or call (800) 321-6742.

New steel, aluminum tariffs to hurt construction firms

The CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, has released the following statement in reaction to President Trump's announcement he will impose new tariffs on imported steel and aluminum products:

"These new tariffs will cause significant harm to the nation's construction industry, put tens of thousands of high-paying construction jobs at risk, undermine the president's proposed infrastructure initiative and potentially dampen demand for new construction projects for years to come. That is because the newly imposed tariffs will lead to increases in what construction firms are forced to pay for the many steel and aluminum products that go into a typical construction project.

"Firms that are already engaged in fixedprice contracts may be forced to absorb these costs, forcing them to cut back on new investments in equipment and personnel. Higher steel and aluminum prices will make the kind of infrastructure work President Trump supports more expensive, forcing federal, state and local officials to cut back on projects they can fund. And the likely trade war these new tariffs prompt will diminish demand for private investment in infrastructure as well as construction demand for manufacturing, shipping and distribution facilities."

To read the full statement, visit www.agc.org.

Campaign focuses on four most deadly construction hazards

In March, OSHA launched a Focus Four Campaign in the Mid- Atlantic States to address the four leading causes of fatal injuries in construction.

Throughout March, the campaign used toolbox talks and outreach events to focus on electrical hazards. In April, the focus was on struck-by hazards. May will target fall hazards, and June will focus on caught-in/ between hazards. The campaign partners include OSHA consultation projects, state occupational safety and health agencies in Maryland and Virginia, the Mid-Atlantic Construction Safety Council, and the General Builders and Contractors Association.